Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace won’t be back for Halloween after all. Walt Disney World now says the outdoor half of the Polynesian Village Resort’s tiki bar will stay closed through mid-December, pushing its return back roughly a month and a half from the late October target Disney had been using.
Disney’s updated wording, as Blog Mickey reported, reads: “Through mid-December, Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be temporarily closed due to refurbishment work at the Great Ceremonial House.”
The Third Target For The Terrace
The terrace went dark in April, when scaffolding went up around the Great Ceremonial House, the main building at the center of the resort. Disney first expected it to be closed from mid-April through late June. That date came and went, and on July 14 Disney set late October as the new goal. Mid-December is the third target, and if it holds, the lounge will have been closed for about eight months. Disney hasn’t said what the work on the building involves beyond calling it refurbishment.
That’s a long time to go without it. The terrace is the open-air side of Trader Sam’s, the tiki bar named for the Jungle Cruise’s famous head salesman, and it’s where many guests go to enjoy their tiki drinks outdoors.
What To Expect At The Polynesian Right Now
The indoor Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto has stayed open through the whole project, so you can still get your Trader Sam’s fix inside. You can see what both spots serve on our Polynesian Village Resort menus page.
The Great Ceremonial House is also home to ‘Ohana and its family-style meals, but the building is only part of the work going on. Crews are still reconfiguring the front entrance roadway, a project that now runs into early 2027. Disney is asking guests to allow extra time when arriving at or leaving the resort, and says it will try to keep daytime disruptions to a minimum.
If you have a Polynesian stay or a Trader Sam’s night planned before the middle of December, plan on the indoor bar only. A mid-December reopening would put the terrace back in time for the busiest weeks of the holiday season, but Disney has already moved this date twice, so it’s worth checking the dining page again before you go.
For the latest news and updates make sure to follow us on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Threads | Instagram | TikTok
